Audi RS5 Parking Assist System Goes Completely Dead

Having some experience with parking assist systems, I encountered a very similar issue on my 2013 Audi S5. The ultrasonic sensors completely stopped working, leaving me without any parking assistance functionality. After initial diagnosis, the workshop found that water had damaged a cable connection to the control module for the parking assist system. The moisture created corrosion in one of the main connector plugs. They had to clean the connection points and replace a section of the wiring harness. Total repair cost was 95 Euro and took about 2 hours to complete. The symptoms match exactly what you describe, no sensor feedback, no beeping, and complete system failure. The parking assist control module itself was fine, it was just the connection causing the problem. To provide more specific advice, could you share: Have you noticed any warning messages on the dashboard? Did the system fail gradually or suddenly? Have you recently had any work done near the blind spot sensors or bumpers? Did this start after a car wash or heavy rain? A proper diagnosis would help determine if your issue is similar to what I experienced or if its related to the ultrasonic sensors themselves, which could be more costly to replace.

The issue was eventually resolved at my last service at 175204 KM. Turned out the faulty wiring was causing intermittent connection issues between the radar sensors and the main control module. A complete diagnostic scan revealed corroded pins in the main parking assist connector block. The repair involved cleaning the connection points and replacing a section of the wiring harness that connects the proximity sensors. The blind spot sensors were also affected, but after fixing the wiring connections, all parking assist features started working properly again. For others facing similar issues, make sure to have the entire sensor network checked, as the problem is often in the connections rather than the sensors themselves. The repair was covered under my extended warranty, but I was told it would typically cost around 450 Euro for parts and labor.

Thanks for sharing your repair experience. Had the exact same wiring issues with my RS5 last year, and your solution mirrors what worked for me. The corrosion in the connector block seems to be a common weak point affecting both the parking assist and blind spot monitoring systems. The repair approach targeting the faulty wiring instead of replacing the entire ultrasonic sensors makes perfect sense. These radar sensors are quite robust, but their connections are vulnerable to moisture and corrosion. At around 170000 KM my parking sensors started acting up intermittently before failing completely, similar to your case. One tip for other owners: having the entire parking assist wiring system inspected during regular maintenance can help catch these issues before they lead to complete system failure. The ultrasonic sensors themselves rarely fail, but the connection points need regular checks, especially at higher mileage. 450 Euro sounds about right for the repair when not under warranty. Its much more cost-effective than replacing parking sensors unnecessarily when the root cause is in the wiring harness.

Thanks for all the detailed feedback about the wiring harness repair. You are absolutely right that checking the connections should be part of regular maintenance. My rearview camera started acting up last week too, showing similar symptoms. Based on your experience, I will have the technician check the wiring connections first before replacing any components. The proximity sensors in my car have been working perfectly since the repair. The fault codes have not returned, and the control module is communicating properly with all parking assistance features. Definitely worth the 450 Euro investment to have everything functioning correctly again. Good to know that focusing on the faulty wiring rather than replacing expensive sensors was the right approach. Will pass this knowledge on whenever I hear about similar parking assist system failures in our local owners group.